The food ministry of South Korea issued a health warning advising against consuming fried toothpicks made of starch, shaped like curly fries. This warning came after videos of people eating these toothpicks, seasoned with powdered cheese, went viral on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety expressed concern over the safety of these toothpicks as food and urged people not to eat them.
According to the ministry, the safety of the toothpicks as food has not been verified and consuming them could pose a threat to health. The videos showed people frying and eating the toothpicks, which are a sanitary product, and it is used to pick up finger foods. The toothpicks are made from sweet potato or corn starch and are often used in restaurants in South Korea. They are also environmentally friendly and biodegradable and are sometimes used to pick up finger foods.
In addition to this, the ministry mentioned that green food coloring is used to give the toothpicks their color. Online eating shows, commonly known as “Mukbang”, are very popular in South Korea and often feature people eating a large amount of food or unusual dishes. Despite the appeal of these toothpicks as seen on social media, it is important to heed the health warning issued by the South Korean food ministry and refrain from eating them.